Artists
BEST OF THE BEST IN THE INDUSTRY
MELISSA BARLOW
Melissa Barlow is an internationally acclaimed dancer and choreographer from Los Angeles, known for her explosive style and unmistakable stage presence. Her work has been featured in music videos and live performances with global icons like J Balvin, Tyga, Black Eyed Peas, Snoop Dogg, and Lil Baby. Signed to Bloc Talent, Melissa has lit up stages around the world and major productions, bringing her signature energy and precision to every performance. She is also the creator of “Baddie Language,” a choreographic movement rooted in feminine confidence and authenticity. For the first time, Melissa is showcasing her talent at the Montreal Heels Festival. This is the perfect opportunity to learn from a true industry figurehead; don’t miss out!
HECTOR INVICTUS LOPEZ
Hector Lopez, a native Bronxite, graduated from Dartmouth College with a degree in Theater Studies in 2012. It was there that he began dancing, pursuing it as his career shortly after his graduation. Since then Hector has worked as a professional dancer under the choreographic direction of Yanis Marshall, Kyle Hanagami, Ashle Dawson, Luam Keflezgy, Ramon Baynes, and Yvonne Marie-Sain . His credits to date include artists such as Halsey, Prince Royce, Pabllo Vittar, and Todrick Hall as well as industrial work with Samsung, Adidas, and Moncler. With the guidance of his mentors Hector has been able to transition into teaching. Over the past three years Hector has established himself as an educator in Street Jazz, Jazz Funk, and more specifically Heels Technique.
MONIQUE MANZO
Monique Manzo, a Reno, Nevada local, began her dancing career over 20 years ago. Raised in many major cities across the U.S., she pursued her passion for dance by training at studios in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and Las Vegas, gaining a well-rounded talent and confidence. In 2017, Monique founded The Reno Empire in her hometown, creating a community of passionate dancers. Known for her sassy and feminine style, she directs two performance teams: Bachata and Heels. Her choreography includes Hip-Hop, Jazz, Latin, and Burlesque. However, Bachata holds a special place in her heart. “The first time I heard a Bachata Remix - I fell in love,” says Monique. From soft and sweet to hard-hitting and sexy, Monique tells stories through dance, emphasizing emotion and musicality. She believes in nurturing her students' strength
NINA LI
Nina is a professional dancer and dance teacher based in Toronto, Canada. She started dancing competitively at the age of 4, training extensively in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, and Contemporary growing up, and found her love for commercial styles in her adulthood. She has since then performed for Snoop Dogg, the Juno Awards, and various other brands and artists in addition to various jobs in music videos, TV, and live performances. Nina has taught for heels workshops and conventions in the UK, Dublin, France and Netherlands so far and can’t wait to continue meeting different international heels communities!!
MONTREAL TWERK
Gabriela discovered twerk in 2016 and fell in love with the dance style right away! She founded her company Montreal Twerk shortly after and has since been sharing her passion with women all over Montreal. Her mission was to create a safe space and a judgment-free environment for women to connect with their bodies and explore their femininity! Her classes are an awesome mix between dancing and fitness, that will make you work out your whole body and particularly your legs and core. You will learn to move your hips and enjoy yourself to the sound of different music styles, such as hip hop, rap, dancehall, reggaeton and more.
KSENIA KONDRATOVA SCHOOL OF MODERN DANCE
Ksenia is a talented choreographer and dance teacher with over a decade of experience in the field. She studied in Saint Petersburg, Russia, where she developed a deep passion for dance. For the past six years, she has been sharing her expertise at the School of Modern Dance in Ottawa. Specializing in street styles, femme choreography, and heels, Ksenia brings a unique energy and creativity to her classes. Her commitment to her students is evident as she fosters an inclusive and inspiring environment for dancers of all levels. Ksenia loves her profession and is dedicated to continuous growth and development in her craft. She believes that dance is not just a form of expression but also a powerful tool for building confidence and community among dancers. With her extensive knowledge and infectious enthusiasm, Ksenia continues to make a significant impact in the dance world.
MICHELLE SAGHBINI
From a young age, Michelle has been passionate about dance. Nearly ten years ago, she discovered her true calling in teaching. Over the years, she has shone on stage, performing in numerous local productions and regional competition showcases such as Reprezent, iDance, and Hit the Floor. Michelle has also contributed to prestigious festivals like Île Soniq, the Brossard Cultural Feast, and the Mode Art & Entertainment Festival, where she took charge of choreography and staging. Her pursuit of excellence has led her to undergo training in Canada, the United Arab Emirates, and Lebanon. With this wealth of experience, Michelle inspires her students to express their own individuality through dance, while continuing to grow herself each year.
RACHEL ROMANOSKI
Hailing from Hamilton, Ontario, Rachel Romanoski is a multifaceted Canadian artist proficient in acting, singing, dancing, choreography, and modeling. With a B.A in Performance Arts, she has showcased her talents across Ontario cities such as Hamilton, Toronto, Niagara, and Mississauga, as well as a guest artist for the 2nd Edition of the Montreal Heels Festival. Trained since age five, Rachel's expertise spans dance forms like Hip Hop, Jazz, Ballet, and more. Not only has she led Performing Art Seminars and global workshops, but she's also competed internationally, notably at World Of Dance. She's worked with artists like Reet Roy, Kaela Faloon, and Lauren Lyn, including international stars Nessa Preppy and Cocanina. Rachel passionately nurtures her students to foster confidence and self-expression. Dedicated to inspiring others, she eagerly shares her knowledge and zeal with those on similar artistic journeys.
FAIT ACCOMPLI
Fait Accompli is a Heels instructor, licensed psychologist, and trained Latin dancer with a mission to empower through movement. Specializing in cathartic healing, dance storytelling, and technique development, Fait creates transformative spaces for dancers of all ages, levels, and genders. Their brand, Stiletto Heals, is more than just dance — it’s a method for emotional self-healing, self-esteem building, and personalized growth. Blending clinical expertise with years of experience in Heels, Bachata, and Salsa, Fait offers a unique approach that focuses on the mind-body connection, helping each dancer discover their own strength, confidence, and artistic voice. Fait is excited to bring this powerful and intentional style to the Montreal Heels Festival 2025, offering both workshops and performance opportunities that celebrate healing, individuality, and fearless expression.
NANCY MARTEL
Former figure skating champion, At the age of 28, she redirected her sporting career towards dance; Heels, advertising, Burlesque, Hip hop, she specializes as artistic director of drag queen shows where she has the chance to perform on several stages from Canada to the United States. She has performed and directed shows such as Quebec, Montreal and Chicago Pride, the influencer gala, Dance World Cup Canada Showcase as well as several music videos. She has been perfecting heels for over 8 years now from L.A to Montreal, she has followed training with; Jessica Castro, Cisco, Marissa Hart, Jessica Cummings, Kaela Faloon, Kiana Smith, Brinn Nicole and many more. His style is extravagant which highlights performance and self-confidence
CHERYLLE SHYNE
Cherylle Shyne is a French-Cameroonian professional dancer, choreographer, and founder of A’MOTION DANCE, the first dance studio in Canada dedicated to Afro-Caribbean styles. With over 12 years of experience, she has helped shape Montreal’s Afro dance scene and has taught internationally in cities like Paris, Bangkok, and Tokyo. Cherylle has performed in music videos for Rihanna and Drake (“Work”) and Tory Lanez (“We Can”), and has shared stages with artists such as Corneille, Angèle, Alica Moffet, and Marie Mai. In 2022, she created UMOJA, a dance collective of Afro-descendant artists, to bring Afro-Caribbean dance to major stages. Their debut piece, LUMIN'ESSENCE, was praised at Montreal’s Fashion & Design Festival. She also made her choreography debut on national television in 2023 on La Voix, and has collaborated with brands like Casino de Montréal and Microsoft Canada.
HEELS APPEAL
Sophie’s dance journey began at age five with Korean traditional dance—a short-lived experience that sparked a lifelong love for movement and storytelling. Years later, she found her true artistic voice in heels dance. The moment she danced in heels, something clicked. It wasn’t just a style—it was empowerment, confidence, and creative freedom. After training with top industry leaders in Toronto and South Korea, and performing professionally, Sophie moved to Winnipeg in 2017. She began teaching at Drop In Dance Winnipeg in 2019, using heels as a tool for self-discovery and strength. In 2020, Sophie founded Heel Appeal—a company built to foster growth, artistry, and authentic self-expression. As a choreographer, she’s passionate about guiding dancers not only in mastering movement, but in developing their own creative voice.
LAUREN KEATING
Born and raised in the Kitchener-Waterloo Region, Lauren is a passionate instructor specializing in Heels and Chair Dancing. Her love for these styles began in university when she took her very first Heels class: “It was my first time experiencing an environment where I wasn’t only permitted to embrace my sexier side, but was encouraged to embrace my femininity as a source of strength, creativity and power. Ever since, I’ve been addicted to creating this same atmosphere for dancers of all experience levels.” Lauren’s classes focus on self-love, stepping out of the mind and into the body, and cultivating a supportive, empowering space for dancers to grow, express, and shine.
MALLORY OF SAN TROPEZ DANCE SCHOOL
Mallory Walsh began her dancing career at age three in Vancouver, BC. By age 7, she trained as a competitive dancer in ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop and tap. Walsh’s professional credits include Canada’s PRP Productions with performances at the PNE, The Grey Cup Parade, The Special Olympics Opening Ceremonies, and the Variety Show of Hearts Telethon. Walsh spent three years in Calgary training at Alberta Ballet School’s Professional Division, performing The Nutcracker with the professional company each season. Upon graduation in 2022, Walsh moved to Montreal to pursue her professional carrier. Since joining San Tropez Dance School, Walsh attended and competed in last year’s Montreal Heels Festival. She has quickly become a passionate dance educator. Walsh’s 10+ years of professional dance training and genuine love for dance has proven her commitment to the art form.
UNDERDOG
The Underdog Dance Corp. is Waterloo's first beginner-focused adult dance studio for those who "never thought they would"! If you have two left feet - we want you! We are here to meet you where you're at and help you discover a love for dance and movement. We are often described as Waterloo's most inclusive, encouraging, and friendly space, as well as a "second home" for many of our students. Our studio values are safety, inclusivity, and respect.
JOCELYN MEZA
Jocelyn, also known as JDiva, from Chicago, Illinois. She began her Latin dance journey at 15 but has since developed a passion for training in various styles. Jocelyn embarked on her heels dance journey in 2020, studying under a variety of choreographers, performing for Latin artists and honing her craft. As the founder and director of Divas Dance Team, her style blends sensuality and soulfulness, with a strong foundation in technique and Latin influences.
Our Judges
Competition Coordinator
RAJANNE CHAMI
Rajanne Chami is a dynamic professional with over 9 years of experience in fashion retail and translation, currently excelling as Franchise Operations Manager at Psycho Bunny while pursuing her MBA at Concordia University. Beyond her corporate achievements, Rajanne has cultivated a deep passion for Latin and Heels dance, which she calls her secret outlet for creativity, balance, and self-expression. Her journey reflects the powerful blend of discipline, artistry, and resilience, qualities she now brings to the Montreal Heels Festival stage. With years of dance training and performance experience, Rajanne embodies the Festival’s mission of pushing boundaries and celebrating individuality through movement. As part of the Montreal Heels Festival dance competition, Rajanne serves as an inspiration to dancers ready to showcase their artistry, reminding us that dance is not only about technique, but about finding strength, confidence, and freedom under the spotlight.
Competition EMCEE
GIULIA TRIPOLI
Giulia Tripoli is a dynamic host, speaker, and creative force who has been captivating audiences on local, national, and international stages since 2008. With roots in dance and a deep passion for the arts, she has built a respected career grounded in authenticity, discipline, and innovation. Renowned for her distinctive speaking style, Giulia brings energy, insight, and empathy to every stage she steps onto. Her voice has become a powerful tool for advocacy—elevating artists, amplifying important causes, and inspiring meaningful dialogue across communities. Whether she's hosting major events, leading impactful panel discussions, conducting compelling interviews, or delivering motivational keynotes, Giulia creates space for connection, transformation, and forward-thinking conversation. She is committed to using her platform to spark change and empower the next generation of creatives.
Backstage Manager
MARNI SAIFERT LEVY
Marni Saifert Levy brings her energy, organizational mastery, and wealth of life experience to the backstage of the Montreal Heels Festival. As a Certified Financial Planner and founder of “Rewrite Your Money Story,” Marni knows how to keep things running smoothly under pressure—ensuring every artist, choreographer, and performer has the support they need to shine on stage. Whether managing last-minute schedule changes, coordinating with performers, or keeping the backstage vibe calm and inspired, Marni blends professionalism with positivity, making every moment behind the scenes run as flawlessly as the heels on stage.
Official Photographer
ALEXANDRE RACINE
Alexandre Racine is a talented commercial and corporate photographer known for capturing authentic moments with creativity and precision. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Alexandre transforms professional gatherings and special events into lasting visual memories. His work blends classic portraiture with spontaneous, candid shots that reveal genuine emotion and engagement. Reliable, versatile, and professional, Alexandre consistently delivers stunning results that reflect the energy and essence of every occasion.